City of Kitchener Council resolution that urges the Province of Ontario to recognize the contribution of local libraries

This is to advise that City Council, at a meeting held on January 29, 2018,
passed the following resolution regarding a request to increase local library
funding from $33 million to $50 million for 2018 with subsequent increases in line
with the Consumer Price Index as recommended by the Ontario Library
Association:

“WHEREAS public libraries provide safe, inclusive, and vibrant community
spaces where everyone is welcome to learn, work, connect, and have fun;
and,

WHEREAS the Kitchener Public Library engages with the community and
contributes to a culture of social good by sharing knowledge and resources;
and,

WHEREAS the Kitchener Public Library continues to seek funding
opportunities through donor development and sponsorships to increase
services and expand programming outside of their core funding; and,

WHEREAS in 2017 the Kitchener Public Library continues to have a limited
resource budget despite an increase in new cardholders by 20 percent, an
increase in their social media presence by 34 percent, and the establishment
of the Heffner Studio, a new digital studio space, which expanded their
services by 72 percent within their existing budgets; and further,

WHEREAS the Kitchener Public Library continues to manage public
resources with the utmost care and are committed to the sustainability of their
services;

THEREFORE BE

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener urges the
Province of Ontario to recognize the contribution of local libraries within their
communities and to cease the 20 year budget freeze to local libraries in an
acknowledgement to the services they offer to all residents; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Kitchener urges the Province of
Ontario to reinstate adequate and appropriate funding for local libraries,
increasing each year going forward in line with the consumer price index; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the
Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport, to the Ontario Minister of Municipal
Affairs, to the local MPP’s, to the Association of Municipalities Ontario, to the
Ontario Library Association, to the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries, and
to the Region of Waterloo and local area municipalities.”